The Gift of Magi and Its Background
The Gift of the Magi and its Background
Mindy Phillips
Introduction to Literature ENG125
Instructor Julie Alfaro
January 21st, 2013
In my paper I am going to be describing the short story The Gift of the Magi. Throughout my paper I am going to describe what I feel is the theme of the story itself. I will also be explaining and identifying symbolism used and described in the story, as well as talking about the point of view that the narrator used in the story. Finally, I will be describing how the literary elements affect the narrators theme. The Gift of the Magi, is a short story written by O Henry, in this short story is the true meaning of love and the importance it is to show your loved ones how much they mean to you and how much you care about them. I believe that the theme of the story, The Gift of the Magi, would be the gift of giving. People often forget about the importance and giving and just focus their attention on receiving. They are less likely to worry more about purchasing something for somebody else as they are worried about what somebody else is going to purchase and give to them as a present. My look on this is it is better to give than to receive. In this story it is like how I feel and how I think around Christmas time they do not think about what their husband or their wife is going to be purchasing them as gifts this year. They are just focused on and concerned about buying each other the gift they believe is the perfect gift. They want to show them how much they care about them, and even if it means turning in their prized possessions they will do that in order to purchase this gift for Christmas. It shows how hard of a time financially that Jim and Della were having. Della only had $1.87 to her name to be able to purchase her husband Jim the gift she wanted to for Christmas and this was not going to happen. She knew that she was going to have to sell her hair to be able to purchase her husband Jim’s watch that she wanted to get
Mindy Phillips
Introduction to Literature ENG125
Instructor Julie Alfaro
January 21st, 2013
In my paper I am going to be describing the short story The Gift of the Magi. Throughout my paper I am going to describe what I feel is the theme of the story itself. I will also be explaining and identifying symbolism used and described in the story, as well as talking about the point of view that the narrator used in the story. Finally, I will be describing how the literary elements affect the narrators theme. The Gift of the Magi, is a short story written by O Henry, in this short story is the true meaning of love and the importance it is to show your loved ones how much they mean to you and how much you care about them. I believe that the theme of the story, The Gift of the Magi, would be the gift of giving. People often forget about the importance and giving and just focus their attention on receiving. They are less likely to worry more about purchasing something for somebody else as they are worried about what somebody else is going to purchase and give to them as a present. My look on this is it is better to give than to receive. In this story it is like how I feel and how I think around Christmas time they do not think about what their husband or their wife is going to be purchasing them as gifts this year. They are just focused on and concerned about buying each other the gift they believe is the perfect gift. They want to show them how much they care about them, and even if it means turning in their prized possessions they will do that in order to purchase this gift for Christmas. It shows how hard of a time financially that Jim and Della were having. Della only had $1.87 to her name to be able to purchase her husband Jim the gift she wanted to for Christmas and this was not going to happen. She knew that she was going to have to sell her hair to be able to purchase her husband Jim’s watch that she wanted to get